North Carolina Insurance License
The North Carolina insurance license exam, in plain numbers.
Everything below is specific to North Carolina — the pass mark, the question counts, who runs the exam, and what the state requires before and after you sit it.
What you need to pass in North Carolina
| Edition | Scored questions | Correct to pass | Pass mark | Misses allowed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Life & Health | 55 | 39 | 70% | 16 |
| Life only | 55 | 39 | 70% | 16 |
| Health only | 55 | 39 | 70% | 16 |
Administered by Pearson VUE for the North Carolina Department of Insurance. Time limit: 1 hour 15 minutes per exam. Roughly 20 of the scored questions (36%) come from North Carolina law — the block national courses cover most lightly.
Prelicensing
Eliminated effective October 1, 2025. Historically 20 hours per line under G.S. 58-33-30(d)(2), plus 10 hours for Medicare Supplement and Long-Term Care under 58-33-30(d)(3). A prep course remains recommended.
Continuing education
24 hours every two years, including 3 hours of ethics. Continuing education is what keeps a perpetual license active.
License term
perpetual - the license does not expire
Regulator
The North Carolina Department of Insurance oversees licensing, headed by elected statewide as a member of the Council of State.
North Carolina Life and Health Insurance Guaranty Association
If an insurer fails, these are the limits that apply to North Carolina policyholders. Verified against the NOLHGA state-by-state table dated 1 June 2025.
| What is protected | Limit |
|---|---|
| Life insurance death benefit | $300,000 |
| Life insurance cash surrender value | $300,000 |
| Hospital, medical, surgical, or major medical | $500,000 |
| Disability income and long-term care | $300,000 |
| Other health insurance benefits | $300,000 |
| Annuity benefits (present value) | $300,000 |
The Study Guide
Written for North Carolina, not for everyone.
Every rule explained in ordinary English before the terminology arrives. If two things are easy to confuse, we tell them apart in a sentence. No insurance background assumed.
You get two PDFs: a study guide that teaches the material, and a practice exam whose answer key explains why each answer is right. Printable flashcards, a master sheet of every number worth memorizing, and a four-week study plan are included.
Twisting versus churning. Twisting involves lying to move a customer, usually to a different company. Churning happens inside the same company and is about generating commission. If the question mentions misrepresentation, it is twisting. If it mentions the same insurer, it is churning.
North Carolina insurance exam questions, answered
How many questions are on the North Carolina insurance license exam?
The combined life and health exam has 55 scored questions. You need 39 correct to pass at 70%, which means you can miss 16.
What is the passing score for the North Carolina insurance exam?
70%. That works out to 39 correct answers out of 55 scored questions.
Who administers the North Carolina insurance license exam?
Pearson VUE, on behalf of the North Carolina Department of Insurance.
Does North Carolina require prelicensing education?
Eliminated effective October 1, 2025. Historically 20 hours per line under G.S. 58-33-30(d)(2), plus 10 hours for Medicare Supplement and Long-Term Care under 58-33-30(d)(3). A prep course remains recommended.
How much continuing education does North Carolina require?
24 hours every two years, including 3 hours of ethics. Continuing education is what keeps a perpetual license active.
Is there a North Carolina life-only or health-only exam?
Yes. Life only is 55 scored questions, 39 to pass, Health only is 55 scored questions, 39 to pass.
How much does a North Carolina study guide cost?
A single-line guide is $9.99 and the combined life and health guide is $19.99. Each includes a study guide and a practice exam with a full answer key.
These are independent study aids. They are not state-approved prelicensing education courses and do not satisfy any state prelicensing requirement. They are not affiliated with any exam vendor or state insurance regulator. All practice questions are original. We publish no pass-rate claim and make no guarantee of any exam result. Content verified as of August 2026 — confirm current requirements with the North Carolina Department of Insurance.